Ice Maker Movable Heater Case Design for Transparent Ice Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice makers produce opaque ice due to trapped air and rapid freezing, making it difficult to achieve transparent ice, especially in refrigerators where water cannot flow or be sprinkled.
Innovation Solution
An ice maker design with a movable heater case and tray system that allows for controlled expansion and contraction, creating a mechanism to guide bubbles out of the ice-making cell, ensuring uniform heating and preventing excessive temperature rise, thereby producing transparent and spherical ice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If water is frozen in all directions using conventional ice maker method, then freezing speed is fast, but air is trapped inside and opaque ice is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The ice making process is segmented into two distinct phases: a freezing phase where ice is formed, and a melting phase where the heater melts portions of the ice to allow air bubbles to escape. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both rapid freezing and transparent ice by separating the conflicting requirements of fast freezing (which traps air) and air removal (which requires melting).
Solution Approach 2:
The ice maker employs periodic action by alternating between freezing operations and melting operations. During the freezing phase, ice is formed rapidly; during the melting phase, the heater selectively melts portions of the ice to expel air bubbles. This periodic alternation resolves the contradiction by allowing both fast freezing and air removal to occur at different times in the same system.
2Use of energy by moving object
If heater contact area with second tray is increased to improve heating efficiency, then energy consumption is reduced, but heater may interfere with second pusher operation
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is designed with dynamic adjustability, allowing its contact area with the second tray to be modified. The heater can be positioned to provide sufficient heating efficiency while maintaining clearance from the pusher's path of operation. This dynamic configuration enables the system to achieve optimal heating without interfering with the pusher mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating function is localized to specific areas of the second tray where it is most needed, rather than providing uniform heating across the entire tray. This localized heating approach reduces the overall heater contact area required, thereby minimizing potential interference with the pusher while still achieving effective ice melting and air bubble removal.
3Manufacturing precision
If heater provides continuous heating to prevent temperature deviation, then ice quality is improved, but excessive temperature rise may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The heater operates periodically rather than continuously, alternating between active heating phases and inactive phases. During the melting phase, the heater is activated to prevent temperature deviation and maintain ice quality; during the freezing phase, the heater is deactivated to prevent excessive temperature rise. This periodic operation resolves the contradiction between maintaining ice quality and controlling temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback control where the heater operation is regulated based on temperature conditions and process stage. The controller monitors the ice making process and adjusts heater activation accordingly, ensuring heating is provided only when needed to maintain temperature stability without causing excessive temperature rise.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces energy consumption, improves ice quality by preventing temperature deviations, and ensures consistent ice formation, resulting in transparent and spherical ice with reduced material costs and efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a heater configured to provide heat to the second tray
Implementation Method 2
a spring configured to adjust a gap between the tray supporter and the heater case
Implementation Method 3
When the water in the ice making cell expands in the process of being changed to ice
Implementation Method 4
the heater case and the second tray move together in a state in which the heater contacts the second tray due to the expansion of the second tray during the ice making process
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~2
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
Figure 4(a)~4(b)
AI summary
An ice maker, according to the present invention, comprises: a first tray for defining one portion of the ice-making cell, which is a space for creating ice; a second tray for defining the other portion of the ice-making cell; a heater for providing heat to the second tray; and a heater case having the heater coupled thereto, wherein in an ice-making process, at least one portion of the heater case may move along with the second tray.